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Last updated: 31 October 2003
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Last updated: 31 October 2003 |
Subject: ETX-90 Right Tube Adapter failure Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 13:35:41 From: mikestroup@techsapien.com I wrote a couple weeks ago and you kindly pointed me toward the Right Tube Adapter failure and Meade's replacement kit. In my right tube (after following replacement instructions) I have two anomalies that depart from the generic failure. 1) the lower hard stop (next to the worm gear) is nearly sheared off. Is this something that can be glued (i.e., is subjected to minimal pressure)? Or, do I need to order the outside housing of the Right Tube Adapter? 2) it appears that the worm drive cog that fits over the center piece in the right tube adapter *should* be free on the center spindle, and be locked when the outside knob is tightened down. In my case, it is a VERY tight fit - no spinning will ever be possible - in fact, I'm now afraid of damaging the replacement kit parts just taking it off again. Any enlightenment (and I understand this may include "contact Meade") will be appreciated! Mahalo, Mike Stroup
Subject: ETX90EC Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 06:04:50 From: JJacobs@commandsoftware.com (John Jacobs) Do you know where I can buy a azimuth drive housing for an ETX 90EC? I have attached a 55KB photo of the azimuth drive open. The housing somehow broke and now the pins dont hold the gears in place. This was how I bought it. Pity I didn't read your web page before trying to fix it myself, since now I have other problems! If you can help, thanks, John Jacobs
Mike here: Try Telescope Warehouse (see the Astronomy Links page).
Subject: ETX-90RA RA Slop Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 22:23:42 From: george.hofmann@comcast.net (George Hofmann) I bought an ETX-90RA recently. Two things bug me greatly. The first is that tightening the RA lock causes the OTA to significantly tilt. I can see that the baseplate that the scope sits on is being forced up and away from the mount. Is there any way to prevent this? The second problem is that the dec adjuster feels like it is bent internally. Turning it I feel alternating tightness and looseness for every 360 degrees of rotation. How about a solution for this? A third thing is that the RA scale tape slips. I guess I can live with that, but the other two problems bug me. George HofmannMike here: Could you be overtightening the RA lock? The DEC lock should not allow rotation of 360 degrees. Are you sure it is locking? As to the tape slipping, a small piece of tape will help that. Tape it down after you adjust the setting circle for that observing session.
And:
No I am not overtightening the RA lock. Quite the contrary. There's just a huge amount of slop in the base and the plate that the forks are attached to. I am not talking about the DEC lock, but rather the DEC adjustment knob. I'll try the tape trick, but that sure seems lame. Thanks ghMike here: The setting circle tape is supposed to be movable obviously but it sounds like yours might be too loose since it slips. You could remove it and try to adjust it but tape is probably less problematic. Sorry I got confused by your statement "The second problem is that the dec adjuster feels like it is bent internally. Turning it I feel alternating tightness and looseness for every 360 degrees of rotation." There is a cure for a RA "bumpiness"; see the articles "ETX-90RA Right Ascension Play Fix" and "ETX-90RA "sticky" R.A. movement fix" on the Telescope Tech Tips page; they might help.
Subject: Optics coatings Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 20:33:00 From: jrnorris@nltc.net (John) I will be purchasing my first Scope in the very near future. I've decided on an ETX-90 AT. I talked to one of the "Technical Reps" of a dealer nearby. I asked about whether or not the UHTC coatings should be purchased for the ETX-90. "We don't recommend the coatings for small scopes", was his reply. I would be interested in your views on this. Thanks in advance for all your help. John NorrisMike here: I've looked through an ETX-90 with and one without UHTC. The difference was dramatic and real. I recommend getting UHTC.
Subject: Meade ETX 90AT Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 10:20:26 From: mfridkin@clccrul.org (Michael K. Fridkin) You have a great website! Here are my questions. I have been using an ETX 90RA for six years. I love its optics and portability. However, it just fell in the sand, so I'm using this as an excuse to buy an ETX 90AT (or another similarly priced and ultra portable Go-to scope). Reading over your website, I am concerned that there have been software and mechanical problems with the ETX 90AT. What is the current consensus of the reliability of the ETX 90AT for performing up to its advertised qualities? Is there another 90mm go-to scope that performs better? Also, I have sometimes enjoyed, sometimes hated using the setting circles manually on my 90RA for finding deep sky objects (depending on my degree of success). Can the 90AT be used manually like an RA (if, for example, the Autostar is malfunctioning, or if I just feel like it.)? Thanks. Michael K. FridkinMike here: There are Orion, Celestron, and Meade GOTO telescopes. The ETX-90 model has been pretty reliable and so has the Autostar. Many problems get reported as users learn to use the system. Meade's documentation is a little sparse. But there is a lot of help on the Site. And yes, the ETX-90AT still includes the setting circles so you can use them. But without the Autostar (or a standard handcontroller, which is no longer included) you can not run the RA drive.
Subject: ETX-90EC Dec Lock Problems Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 06:36:24 From: denise.borthwick@btopenworld.com (Denise Borthwick) I went to my ETX-90EC last night and found the tube pointing to the ground. It looks like the Right Tube Adapter has broken, a fault I know you have highlighted on numerous occasions. I am very disappointed as I have only tightened the Dec Lock once, when I first bought the ETX, and it has sat on it's tripod ever since, and is just carried outside when required for use, and returned to it's safe corner after use, with the Tube always left in the Horizontal position. Anyway, I thought I should remove the Tube from the Forks to check, using your handy guide, but I have not been provided with the allen key. So I have raided my toolkit, but cannot find a key to fit: 2.5mm is to small, 3mm is to big 3/32 is to small, 1/8 is to big Do you know which size of allen key I should be looking for. Also being a resident of the UK, should I contact Meade in the USA or is there a UK alternative. I hope you can help, Meade not having an Email facility has made me feel quite helpless. Thanking you in advance and also thank you very much for providing such an authorative and thoroughly enthrailing Website. Best Regards Kevin Borthwick Lower Burwithian Burnwithian St Day Redruth Cornwall TR16 5LG England keborthwick@hotmail.comMike here: There is a Meade in Germany: http://www.meade.de/
Subject: Re: Re: Re: ETX-90 Collimation Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 11:12:16 From: mkamel26@hotmail.com (Morris Kamelgarn) I think I found out what the problem was. I think the primary mirror might be okay, but I looked at the scope again and I noticed that the secondary baffle wasn't centered on the corrector. I did adjust the primary a little and the image seems to be a little sharper than before, so do you think I should try taking off the corrector plate and fix the baffle, or just leave it alone. MorrisMike here: This can happen, especially on older ETX-90 models. See the articles "ETX-90RA Secondary Baffle Fix" and "Re-attaching the Baffle" on the Telescope Tech Tips page.
Subject: New DSX-90 and DSX-125 replacing the ETX Series? Sent: Monday, October 13, 2003 08:46:49 From: Info@peachdog.com Is there any information on whether Meade is replacing the ETX series with the DSX series. I saw a posting on your web site that referred to it on your Weasner's Meade ETX-90 User Feedback but the link was broken (probably due to a date cutoff for current comments). I saw the scope at Brookstone and it resembles the Nexstar series with an offset single fork. This would allow back mounted cameras more room to maneuver the scope with impacting the current vertical forks of the ETX series. Oddly, the Meade site (or anywhere else) do not mention this series at all. There was not enough information to know whether the Scope had a UHTC coating or whether the 497 controller was included. I was considering buying an ETX125 series. Should I wait until the DSX 125's come out? Thanks, J. P.S. Great job on your website!!!! Thanks much for your effort!Mike here: I have no info regarding Meade's future direction. It does appear that the DSX-90AT model includes an Autostar but beyond that I can't tell from the ads.
Subject: newbie here Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 09:05:07 From: me@tomhutchins.com (Tom Hutchins) First Off ... Many thanks To the person's on this forum... Especially The person named Mike who seems to be the most helpful person... Well I just bough my first real telescope a 90ETX RA (well what I considered real). I had Bought one (department store brand) a long time ago when Haleys was around. I really want to get back into astronomy and now showing my son the Planets . I know my new scope comes with a 26mm What would be the wise choice of lens to buy to see the Planets and things like M57 ? I figure I'll try out this 90 RA and If I get the hang of it go for a 125EC . Also has anyone taken advantage of the 99.00 lens kit that Meade is offering right now Is it a good deal ? Thanks In advance for all your help and I look forward to participating in the group in the Future.. HutchMike here: Many people have purchased the $99 Eyepiece Deal; recommended. (But I don't recall if the ETX-90RA model qualifies.) For more on eyepieces see the Accessory Reviews - Eyepieces and Buyer/New User Tips pages.
Subject: help Sent: Thursday, October 2, 2003 18:51:39 From: mastanford@rhtc.net (Mark Stanford) the secondary baffle appears to be glued on to the corrector plate. it has started to migrate. i sent it to meade when it was under warranty and they sent me a new corrector. years later , out of warranty, it has moved again . any idea on how to fix this without ruining the corrector and coatings? thanks for any assistance you could render. mark stanford one of the first etx 90 ra ownersMike here: Please read the Email Etiquette page on the ETX Site; your email was almost deleted UNREAD as it looked like SPAM.
Subject: Re: Re: ETX-90 Collimation Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:04:15 From: mkamel26@hotmail.com (Morris Kamelgarn) Thanks a lot for your help. I looked at your 'collimation tips' page, and I'm going to try it as soon as I get the right tools. I think I should be okay as long as I don't touch the optics; I don't think I can mess the collimation up much worse than it already is. Morris
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